Optimizing chemical-vapor-deposition diamond for nitrogen-vacancy center ensemble magnetometry

Abstract

The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond has emerged as a promising platform for high-sensitivity, vector magnetic field detection and high spatial resolution magnetic-field imaging due to its unique combination of optical and spin properties. NV diamond magnetometry has enabled a wide array of applications from the noninvasive measurement of a single neuron action potential to the mapping [mu]T-fields in [mu]m-size meteorite grains. To further improve the magnetic sensitivity of an ensemble NV magnetometer, the growth and processing of the host diamond must be taken into account. This thesis presents a systematic study of the effects of diamond processing on bulk chemical-vapor-deposition diamond. In particular, NV charge-state composition and spin decoherence times are measured for diamonds irradiated with 1 MeV electrons at doses of 1x1015-5x1019 e-/cm2 and thermally annealed at temperatures of 850°C and 1250°C. The study provides an optimal range for diamond processing and shows the quenching of the NV center at high irradiation dosage from the creation of additional vacancy-related defects.